Multiple-fold portable electronic device

ABSTRACT

A multiple-fold portable electronic device is provided. The portable electronic device in one embodiment includes a first, second and third planar sections. The first and second planar section are connected by a first joint and foldable in relation to each other. The second and third planar sections are connected by a second joint and foldable in relation to each other. Each planar section can include an input device or an output device or both.

FIELD

This specification relates to portable electronic devices and moreparticularly relates to a multiple-fold portable electronic device.

BACKGROUND

Portable electronic devices are ubiquitous because their applicationsare seemingly limitless. Some examples of portable electronic devicesare cell phones, smartphones, email paging devices, Personal DigitalAssistants (PDA), audio players, video players, video cameras, stillcameras, and portable video games. Increasingly, the functionalities ofthe foregoing are being incorporated into single multifunctionelectronic devices. One challenge in designing a multifunctionelectronic device is to increase the operable surface used for input andoutput devices, such as display screens, keyboards, trackwheels,cameras, and touch screens. Yet, in maximizing the operable surface,care is also needed to reduce the volume of the device so as to maintainportability. A popular solution is a flip device that pivotally attachesa screen to a keyboard. In use, the flip device is flipped open toexpose the screen and the keyboard. In storage, the device is closedlike a clam with the screen facing the keyboard. However, as thefunctionalities of multifunction devices increase, flip devices canprove limiting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a double-fold portable electronic devicein an open position;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the double-fold portable electronicdevice of FIG. 1 in a disassembled state;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the double-fold portable electronicdevice of FIG. 1 in a shut position;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the double-fold portable electronic device ofFIG. 1 transitioning between the open and shut positions;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the double-fold portable electronicdevice of FIG. 1 in an intermediate position;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the double-fold portable electronicdevice of FIG. 1 in another intermediate position;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of certain internal components within theelectronic device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a double-foldportable electronic device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of a double-foldportable electronic device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of a double-foldportable electronic device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of a double-foldportable electronic device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of a double-foldportable electronic device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of a double-foldportable electronic device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of a double-foldportable electronic device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of a double-foldportable electronic device of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4, a double-fold portable electronicdevice in accordance with a first embodiment is generally indicated at100. Double-fold portable electronic device 100 has an open position(shown in FIG. 1) and a shut position (shown in FIGS. 3 and 4).Double-fold portable electronic device 100 has a first planar housing105, a second planar housing 110, and a third planar housing 115. Eachplanar housing 105, 110, 115 is a hexahedron. First planar housing 105has a first surface 120, a second surface 125, a first side 130, asecond side 135, and a first recess 140 situated in second side 135.Second planar housing 110 has a third surface 145, a fourth surface 150,a third side 155, a fourth side 160, a second recess 165 situated inthird side 155, and a third recess 170 situated in fourth side 160.Third planar housing 115 has a fifth surface 175, a sixth surface 180, afifth side 185, a sixth side 190, and a fourth recess 195 situated infifth side 185. First planar housing 105 is connected to second planarhousing 110 via a first joint 200. First joint 200 is situated in thefirst recess 140 and second recess 165. Second planar housing 110 isconnected to third planar housing 115 via a second joint 205.

Referring to FIG. 2, to illustrate joints 200, 205 and their connectionsto housings 105, 110, 115 in more detail, double-fold portableelectronic device 100 is shown with housings 105, 110, 115 detached fromjoints 200, 205. First joint 200 comprises a first body 207, a firsthinge 210, a second hinge 215, a third hinge 220, and a fourth hinge225. First body 207 has a lateral cross-section of an elongated C formedby a first rounded side 230 and a first flat side 235 (best seen in FIG.3). First body 207 comprises a first end 240 and a second end 245. Firsthinge 210 and second hinge 215 extend from first end 240. Third hinge220 and fourth hinge 225 extend from second end 245. Second joint 205comprises a second body 250, a fifth hinge 255, a sixth hinge 260, aseventh hinge 265, and a eighth hinge 270. Second body 250 has a lateralcross-section of an elongated C formed by a second rounded side 275(best seen in FIG. 4) and a second flat side 280. Second body 250comprises a third end 285 and fourth end 290. Fifth hinge 255 and sixthhinge 260 extend from third end 285. Seventh hinge 265 and eighth hinge270 extend from fourth end 290.

First recess 140 has a first wall 295 and a second wall 300. First wall295 comprises a first pivot 305. Second wall 300 comprises a secondpivot 310. Second recess 165 comprises a third wall 315 and a fourthwall 320. Third wall 315 comprises a third pivot 325. Fourth wall 320comprises a fourth pivot 330. Third recess 170 comprises a fifth wall335 and a sixth wall 340. Fifth wall 335 comprises a fifth pivot 345.Sixth wall 340 comprises a sixth pivot 350. Fourth recess 195 comprisesa seventh wall 355 and eighth wall 360. Seventh wall 355 comprises aseventh pivot 365. Eighth wall 360 comprises an eighth pivot 370.

First joint 200 is attached to first planar housing 105 via the matingof first hinge 210 with first pivot 305 and third hinge 220 with secondpivot 310. First joint 200 is attached to second planar housing 110 viathe mating of second hinge 215 with third pivot 325 and fourth hinge 225with fourth pivot 330. Second joint 205 is attached to second planarhousing 110 via the mating of fifth hinge 255 with fifth pivot 345 andseventh hinge 265 with sixth pivot 350. Second joint 205 is attached tothird planar housing 115 via the mating of sixth hinge 260 with seventhpivot 365 and eighth hinge 270 with eighth pivot 370.

In the present embodiment, in the open position, first surface 120,first rounded side 230, third surface 145, second flat side 280, andfifth surface 175 all face the same general direction (shown in FIG. 1).In the present embodiment, in the shut position, first surface 120 isfacing third surface 145, fourth surface 150 is facing sixth surface 180and double-fold portable electronic device 100 forms a hexahedron thatis substantially three times the height of each housing 105, 110, 115(shown FIG. 3).

Referring to FIG. 4, double-fold portable electronic device 100 isshown, in a side view, as it transitions between the open position (asshown in FIG. 1) and shut position (as shown in FIG. 3). In the presentembodiment, second side 135, third side 155, fourth side 160, and fifthside 185 are rounded. Transitioning from the open position (shown inFIG. 1) to the shut position (shown in FIG. 3) can be effected byfolding housings 105, 110, 115 onto each other. First planar housing 105and second planar housing 110 are folded towards each other in thedirection that decreases the radial distance between first surface 120and third surface 145. Second planar housing 110 and third planarhousing 115 are folded towards each other in the direction thatdecreases the radial distance between fourth surface 150 and sixthsurface 180.

Transitioning from the shut position (shown in FIG. 3) to the openposition (shown in FIG. 1) can be effected by unfolding housings 105,110, 115 away from the housing that they are attached to by joints 200,205. First planar housing 105 and second planar housing 110 are unfoldedaway from each other in the direction that increases the radial distancebetween first surface 120 and third surface 145. Second planar housing110 and third planar housing 115 are unfolded away from each other inthe direction that increases the radial distance between fourth surface150 and sixth surface 180. As can be seen from FIG. 4, the rounding ofsecond side 135, third side 155, fourth side 160, and fifth side 185reduces the friction between the sides when the folding or unfoldingoccurs.

Referring to FIG. 5, double-fold portable electronic device 100 is shownin an exemplary intermediate position. First surface 120 and thirdsurface 145 form an obtuse angle A. Fourth surface 150 and sixth surface180 form an acute angle B. In the present embodiment, first surface 120contains a keyboard 375, third surface 145 contains a first displayscreen 380, and fifth surface 175 contains a second display screen 385(best seen in FIG. 1). It is apparent to a person skilled in the artthat depending on the function of the device, display screens 380, 385can be touch screens.

Referring to FIG. 6, double-fold portable electronic device 100 is shownin another exemplary intermediate position. First surface 120 and thirdsurface 145 form an obtuse angle C. Third surface 145 and fifth surface175 are facing the same direction.

Referring to FIG. 7, certain internal components within double-foldportable electronic device 100 are illustrated by way of a blockdiagram. Double-fold portable electronic device 100 is based on amicrocomputer that includes a processor 390 connected to aread-only-memory (ROM) 395 that contains a plurality of applicationsexecutable by processor 390 to enable double-fold portable electronicdevice 100 to provide certain services (e.g. calendar, e-mail, phone,etc.). Processor 390 is also connected to a random access memory (RAM)400 and a persistent storage device 405, which is responsible forvarious non-volatile storage functions of double-fold portableelectronic device 100. Processor 390 receives input from input devices410 such as keyboard 375 (shown in FIG. 1), display screens 380, 385 (ifthey are touch screens), trackwheel 415 (shown in FIG. 8), and webcam419 (shown in FIG. 8). Processor 390 outputs to output devices 420 suchas display screens 380, 385 (shown in FIG. 1). Processor 390 is alsoconnected to an internal clock 425 and a radio device 430 which, inturn, is connected to an antenna 435. Together, the radio device 430 andthe antenna 435 are used to communicate over a wireless network.Double-fold portable electronic device 100 is operable to receive andtransmit communication signals containing data that is communicated toand from a communication system via the radio device 430 and the antenna435.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 5, and 9 exemplary uses for double-fold portableelectronic device 100 are shown. In FIG. 1, display screens 380, 385 canbehave as an extended display screen (i.e., behave as one large screen)or as two separate display screens. For example, when processor 390 isrunning an application that requires a large display area, processor 390can treat display screens 380, 385 as an extended display screen. Oneexample application of double-fold portable electronic device 100 usingdisplay screens 380, 385 as two separate display screens is to havefirst display screen 380 display a map and have second display screen385 display a zoomed in area of the map. Another example application ofdouble-fold portable electronic device 100 using display screens 380,385 as two separate display screens is to have first display screen 380display thumbnails and have second display screen 385 display the filerepresented by a thumbnail that has been selected from first displayscreen 380. The arrangement of the display screens 380, 385 canautomatically control the screens' behaviour. For example, transitioningfrom the open position (see FIG. 1) to the intermediate position shownin FIG. 5, can cause processor 390 to change the treatment of displayscreens 380, 385 from an extended display screen to two separate displayscreens or duplicate display screens (i.e., anything shown on one screenis correspondingly shown on the other screen). Likewise, transitioningfrom the intermediate position shown in FIG. 5 to the open position (seeFIG. 1), can cause processor 390 to change the treatment of displayscreens 380, 385 from two separate display screens or duplicate displayscreens to an extended display screen. In FIG. 9, second display screen385 behaves as a touchscreen keyboard 440. This can be used to playgames or service any activity that requires input from more than oneuser. Touchscreen keyboard 440 may also be used as a touch phone keypad.

Referring to FIG. 8, a double-fold portable electronic device inaccordance with another embodiment is indicated generally at 100 a.Double-fold portable electronic device 100 a is substantially the sameas double-fold portable electronic device 100 and like elements ofdouble-fold portable electronic device 100 a bear the same referencecharacters, but followed by the suffix “a”. However, unlike double-foldportable electronic device 100, double-fold portable electronic device100 a is shown in FIG. 8 displaying a trackwheel 415, a first button 416and a second button 417 on either side of trackwheel 415, all threecomponents embedded in first rounded side 230 a, and a webcam 419embedded in the side of second rounded side 275 a. It is apparent to aperson skilled in the art that trackwheel 415 can be other similar inputdevices such as a trackball, an optical jog ball, and a joy stick.

Referring to FIG. 9, a double-fold portable electronic device inaccordance with yet another embodiment is indicated generally at 100 b.Double-fold portable electronic device 100 b is substantially the sameas double-fold portable electronic device 100 and like elements ofdouble-fold portable electronic device 100 b bear the same referencecharacters, but followed by the suffix “b”. However, unlike double-foldportable electronic device 100, double-fold portable electronic device100 b is shown in FIG. 9 displaying a touchscreen keyboard 440 on fifthsurface 175 b.

Referring to FIG. 10, a double-fold portable electronic device inaccordance with yet another embodiment is indicated generally at 100 c.Double-fold portable electronic device 100 c is substantially the sameas double-fold portable electronic device 100 and like elements ofdouble-fold portable electronic device 100 c bear the same referencecharacters, but followed by the suffix “c”. However, unlike double-foldportable electronic device 100, double-fold portable electronic device100 c is shown in FIG. 10 displaying a touchpad 445 on third surface 145c.

Referring to FIG. 11, a double-fold portable electronic device inaccordance with yet another embodiment is indicated generally at 100 d.Double-fold portable electronic device 100 d is substantially the sameas double-fold portable electronic device 100 and like elements ofdouble-fold portable electronic device 100 d bear the same referencecharacters, but followed by the suffix “d”. However, unlike double-foldportable electronic device 100, double-fold portable electronic device100 d is shown in FIG. 11 displaying a left half keyboard 457 on firstsurface 120 d and a right half keyboard 460 on fifth surface 175 d. Lefthalf keyboard 457 contains the keys of the left half of a QWERTYkeyboard and right half keyboard 460 contains the keys of the right halfof a QWERTY keyboard.

Referring to FIG. 12, a double-fold portable electronic device inaccordance with yet another embodiment is indicated generally at 100 e.Double-fold portable electronic device 100 e is substantially the sameas double-fold portable electronic device 100 and like elements ofdouble-fold portable electronic device 100 e bear the same referencecharacters, but followed by the suffix “e”. However, unlike double-foldportable electronic device 100, double-fold portable electronic device100 e is shown in FIG. 12 displaying a game control pad 465 on firstsurface 120 e.

While the embodiments discussed herein are directed to specificembodiments, it will be understood that subsets and variations of theembodiments are within the scope of the invention. For example, webcam419 may be replaced by speakers. It is apparent to a person skilled inthe art that keyboard 375, as drawn, is symbolic of a keyboard and thatkeyboard 375 may be a QWERTY keyboard 470 (see FIG. 13), a SURETYPE®keyboard 475 (see FIG. 14), telephone keyboard 480 (see FIG. 15), aQWERTZ keyboard, a QWERTU keyboard, a DVORAK, or other keyboards.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A multiple-fold portable electronic devicecomprising: a first planar housing having at least two sides, a firstand a second surfaces, an input device disposed on said first surface,said input device is selected from a group consisting of QWERTYkeyboards, SURETYPE keyboards, and game controllers; a second planarhousing having at least two sides, a third and a fourth surfaces, afirst display screen disposed on said third surface, said second planarhousing connected to said first planar housing via a first joint suchthat said first housing and said second housing are foldable in relationto each other between a shut position and an open position, said firstjoint having a first rounded side and a first side surface, said firstrounded side having a trackwheel; and a third planar housing having atleast two sides, a fifth and a sixth surfaces, a second display screendisposed on said fifth surface, said third planar housing connected tosaid second planar housing via a second joint such that said secondhousing and said third planar housing are foldable in relation to eachother between the shut position and the open position, said second jointhaving a second rounded side and a second flat side, such that saidfirst surface, third surface, fifth surface, first rounded side, andsecond flat side all face the same general direction when said device isin said open position.
 2. The portable electronic device of claim 1wherein each of said housings is substantially the same size such thatwhen said electronic device is in said shut position and said openposition said electronic device has the form factor of a hexahedron. 3.The portable electronic device of claim 1 wherein said second planarhousing is pivotable in relation to said first housing via said firstjoint such that said first housing and said second housing are rotatablein relation to each other between at least a first parallel position andat least a first perpendicular position.
 4. The portable electronicdevice of claim 1 wherein said third planar housing is pivotable inrelation to said second planar housing via said second joint such thatsaid second planar housing and said third planar housing are rotatablein relation to each other between at least a second parallel positionand at least a second perpendicular position.
 5. The portable electronicdevice of claim 1 wherein said sides connected to said joints arerounded.
 6. The portable electronic device of claim 1 wherein at leastone of said display screens is a touch screen.
 7. The portableelectronic device of claim 1 wherein said first rounded side furthercomprises a first and a second buttons disposed on either side of saidtrackwheel.
 8. The portable electronic device of claim 7 wherein saidsecond rounded side comprises a webcam.